Continuous measurement of aerodynamic and alfalfa canopy resistances using the Bowen ratio-energy balance and Penman-Monteith methods

To investigate the alfalfa crop response to environmental factors, a Bowen ratio-energy balance method was used to evaluate short-term alfalfa canopy resistance. Continuous evapotranspiration (ET_a) and the aerodynamic resistance (r_a) for an alfalfa crop in each 20-min interval were calculated. Using the calculated ET_a and r_a and the Penman-Monteith approach, the bulk stomatal or actual canopy resistance (r_c) was evaluated. The continuous 20-min resistances were computed for clear and partially cloudy sky conditions, and different average crop heights. The results show that this technique can satisfactorily be used to study the manner in which the aerodynamic and canopy resistances respond to short-term variations in weather elements such as photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), wind speed and atmospheric saturation vapor deficit.Research Assistant Professor and Assistant Utah State Climatologist, Research Associate Professor and Research Assistant, respectively.